Originally Posted by
jolihokistix
While we are having fun with hypotheticals, the traditional word for oxymoron/paradox/conflict/conundrum/contraditction/antilogy in the east is 矛盾, (maodun in Chinese, mujun in Japanese), the pictograms for spear and shield. If Putin wields a spear, and Ukraine holds a shield, which will prevail?
Putin is approaching with weapons. Is Putin a truly irresistible force? Can Uraine truly be an immovable object?
The answer will lie in the ability of one to overpower the other, or the inability of one to match the other. Putin must be thinking of his own blackbelt.
An interesting martial arts analogy. Judo develops the skill of turning one's opponent's strength against them. Guile vs brute force, if you will. Clearly, the Russian way is to favour brute force.
I don't think the free world can afford to allow Ukraine to be defeated. Such an outcome would not be the end of the matter; rather, the start of a grim global future.